A Guide to Unlocking All Party Interaction Scenes in Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC
The Citadel DLC for Mass Effect 3 is a love letter to the fans, a final, joyous hurrah with the characters we've spent a trilogy growing to love. At the heart of this experience is the now-legendary party, an event that masterfully blends laugh-out-loud humor, poignant character moments, and pure, unadulterated camaraderie. However, the party's magic is dynamic; the scenes you witness depend entirely on the guest list and the atmosphere you choose to cultivate. This guide will help you navigate these choices to unlock every possible interaction and ensure you don't miss a moment of this iconic gathering.
The Foundation: Prerequisites and Invitations
Before you can even think about the party, you must complete the DLC's main mission, "Homecoming." After securing your new apartment, you'll gain access to the Silversun Strip. Here, you can invite squadmates to meet you at various locations (like the casino or the arcade) for individual catch-ups. Completing these meet-ups is absolutely crucial. Not only are they fantastic scenes in their own right, but they also determine who is available and what new dialogue options they bring to the party.
Once all meet-ups are done (or as many as you want), you can propose the party by interacting with the terminal in your apartment. You will be given a choice of two party types:
- The Quiet Party: A more relaxed, intimate gathering focused on deeper conversations and emotional closure. This is the choice for heartfelt moments with characters like Thane's memorial (if applicable) and more serious reflections.
- The Loud Party: A boisterous, chaotic, and hilarious event filled with drinking games, embarrassing stories, and slapstick comedy. This is where the DLC's most infamous and quotable moments occur.
To see everything, you must throw both parties. Fortunately, the game allows you to do this. You can throw one type, reload your save, and then throw the other. The guest list you compile also dramatically alters the flow of events.
Crafting the Guest List for Maximum Interaction
The party unfolds in three acts: the initial mingling, the "fiasco" that breaks out (like the hot tub incident or the bottle game), and the calm after the storm. Who you invite directly influences which scenes play out in each segment.
Key Dynamic Duos and Groups: Certain characters have legendary chemistry. To trigger their specific scenes, you must ensure they are both present.
- Zaeed & Javik: This pairing is non-negotiable for a Loud Party. Their "Discussing the Secrets of Military Victory" is a highlight, with Javik's blunt pragmatism clashing perfectly with Zaeed's old-warrior cynicism.
- Jack & Grunt: Inviting these two together leads to pure chaos. Their "adoption" of the refrigerator and subsequent attempt to "test the limits of the new hardware" is a Loud Party essential.
- Tali & Garrus: The best duo from the original trilogy gets their moment to shine. Whether it's Tali getting explosively drunk and singing classic camp songs or their team-up during the bottle game ("Emergency Induction Port"), they are a must-have.
- James & Ashley/Kaidan: Vega's boisterous personality plays well off the more disciplined VS, especially during the drinking contest and the arm-wrestling match.
- Miranda & Jacob: While their interaction is more subdued, it's a nice nod to the Cerberus crew from ME2.
- Samara & Morinth (if applicable): A rare and incredibly unique interaction if you managed to spare Morinth in ME2. This is one of the most exclusive scenes in the entire game.
The "Wild Card" Invites: Don't just focus on the big names. Supporting characters bring their own flavor:
- Traynor & Joker: Their interaction over the antique razor is a quiet, clever gem.
- EDI: Her literal interpretation of events and attempts to participate in human rituals provide a consistent source of humor, especially in her interactions with Joker.
- Blasto: Yes, you can invite the jellyfish spectre. His single, glorious line is worth it.
A Strategic Approach to Seeing It All
Given the sheer number of variables, a single playthrough won't suffice. Here is a recommended strategy:
- First Party (Loud - The Chaos Run): Create a save file right before initiating the party. For this run, invite everyone. Focus on the chaotic elements: ensure Zaeed, Javik, Jack, Grunt, James, and Tali are all on the list. This will give you the maximum number of big, loud interactions. Pay attention to the main events like the drinking game, the hot tub explosion, and the "Shepard-Shepard-Shepard" game.
- Reload and Mix It Up: Reload your pre-party save. Now, experiment with a slightly different list. Maybe leave out one key person (e.g., Javik) to see how the dynamic changes. Sometimes, removing one character allows another less vocal character to have a new moment.
- Second Party (Quiet - The Emotional Run): After experiencing the loud party, throw a quiet one. The tone is completely different. Invite characters like Liara, Kaidan/Ashley, Samara, and Mordin (if he survived the Genophage cure). This is where you'll get the photo booth scene, the heartfelt conversations on the couch, and the beautiful final scene with your Love Interest.
Notable Missable Scenes
- The Photo Booth: This occurs towards the end of the Quiet Party. Make sure to interact with the booth when the prompt appears for a permanent memento.
- The Couches: In the final segment of the Quiet Party, sitting on the couches with your squadmates triggers a series of tender, reflective conversations about the journey you've shared.
- Romance-Specific Moments: Your chosen Love Interest will have unique interactions throughout, especially in the final scene on the balcony. Ensuring they are invited is, of course, paramount.
In conclusion, the Citadel party is a masterpiece of reactive storytelling. There is no single "correct" way to do it, but by strategically managing your guest list and experiencing both party types, you can ensure you witness the full spectrum of comedy, camaraderie, and emotion that makes this DLC a cherished part of the Mass Effect legacy. It's a final gift, and this guide is your key to unwrapping every last part of it.
